The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-26

OfCourse everybody looked at every
body else, and tho visitors saw in Mrs.
Starkey0s face an expression Of annoy
ance almost amounting TO distress.
II was John Trenuam who made the OK.
clamation. His comradea, Jack Duceman
and Henry ketlow, demanded in one
breath: "''
"What 10 it, John ?" o
"What's the matter, old fellow? 2"
Trennsm exclaimed: "Why, that voice.
Didn't you hear it, Stsrkeye? A muillsd
sound like tho. There 1t is again! Do
you hear that n
Everyone had heard 1t this time. A
mutiled voice, truly but the words were
plainly heard:
"Oh-h.h.h-h!-Don't!"
A long dwell upon The first word, in a
sort Of crescendo wall; then an %instsnt's
pause, and the second word came. short
and sharp but in a louder tone:
"Oh-h.h-h.h!-Don'tl"
A woman's voice, evidently. So it
seemed to all the listeners.
Mrs. starkeyo was the first to speak.
ut has come, Doyce," she said 10 her hus'
band, and the manner, not less than hel
words, told that the wsiling voice wac not
now to them, but was dreaded by her, al
least. la
"starkeye," cried Ducemap, springing
to his feet, with your permission we'll
lay this ghost for you. l see how it must
annoy yoN N pm give us leave? All
tha,'H rEi.t >,I.., hoEs, let's 30 to the
bottom d it. A pa,s,n can't 60 ghost.
hunting, but we can"
1t WIRE arranged that Trennam should
keep watch at the west window of the
parlor. DucemGn was to stealthily station
himself at the west end Of tho front porch,
and ketlow went to the second floor room
above the parlor. A little cool-headed
watching, they thought, would discover
something in no very long time. They
we're to remain at their posts for An hour,
if nothing WIGS found out meanwhile, and
then reaesemble in the parlor to consider
further steps.
The night WAS not dark, but II Was diff.
cult to zee much around the LEAKAGE sur.
rounding the parsonage. a coughing,
westerly wind came fuully through the
t1ees. The friends took their stations,
and half IN hour went by, while at inter
walls the wailing voice was heard. Beyond
| all question 1t was somewhere about the
west end Of tho house. But where? Now
it sounded to Duceman on the porch as il
1t were Just above his head; but the next
time it WIS heard 1t seemed to come from
the top OF a silver leaf poplar that stood
| close to the west end OF the house. Duce.
man peersd around toward the poplar,
and in his eagerness stepped of the porch
among the Rhrubbery.
"Oh-h-h-h-h! Don't!
Almost directly above his head, Duce.
man thought. lie WAS sure it was in the
poplar tres. He crept eoftly along until
he stood under the poplar, snd then look
ing up iutently through tho branches a
dark form outlined saainst tho sky-a
form upon the peak Of the roof and not in
the tree. Duceman WIS both elated and
indignant at bis discovery.
II hate practical jokes aud joksrs-es.
pecialIy stupid ones ss this" he muttered,
as he stole quickly and quietly back to the
porch into the house. "lll Rlye that iel-
low q lesson lie won't forget" said Duce.
man to himself, as he secured his ducking
gun, and then paid a hasty visit to Mrs.
Stetkey e's kitchen.
In a minute more Duceman, gun in
hand, was e~tealing around the west end
Of the house again. There sat the fellow
on the 1oof, dimly seen against the aky.
Duceman raised his gun and fired. With
d loud shrek the. figure on the roof plung.
cd forward into the poplar tree. But the
branches were small snd brittle, and the
figure crashed through them and Hlighted
In the cen,or o! o great arbor vil,eI Out Of
this it rolled, eputtering, grooming and
twisting in many contor,ions. Duceman
dropped his gun and ep1aug forward as
the inmates Of the houss cane nurriedly
out. 4 In % 7sl7
"Great heavens, Ketlow is It you?"ex.
claimed Duceman, az he reached the
writhing figure on the ground.
"O.co.ool Ow-owl yeBl You've killed
mel What did you ehoot fort Oh-h.h2
my him my hip!" answered the writing
ketlow. :
But Dnceman was getting his breath
again.
"Oh, it's only a little charge OF salt that
you've rot" he said. '"rhere was no shot
In it. It's only salt. But what were you
doing gu the roof Was it you making
that noise ~ "a
This did notstop Ketlow's smarting, but
the assurance that he had been hurt only
with salt relieved the others of apprehen.
sion. By degrees Ketlow explained. He
bad gone to the second floor room as up.
pointed. There the wsiling voice was so
distinctly heard that he expected to put
bis hand upon the offender by reaching
out of the window. But when he careful.
ly raised the cash the walls seemed to come
from the roof above his head. Casting
about then he found another window
opening on to the kitchen ROOT, and from
this the main roof was easily reached.
kstlow resolved to capture the waiting
fellow while the Others we're vainly watch
ing. Without difficulty he got to the peak
by the poplar tree.
"fes, yes; but there was tho wailing
voice oil the time you we're aitting on the
peak there? l heard it right there Just
as I discovered you," said Duceman impa.
tiently.
"Why, I was cutting it of with my
jack knife when you fred your old can.
non at me-" replied Ketlow, with return.
Ing indignation at a new twinge in his hip.
Cutting what oG7" they demanded
aghast.
"The voice." said Ketlow. ut was the
limb Of that poplar tree rubbing across
the edge Of q single VIXEN the wind blew.
I cut IL OF to ahow you how smooth II
was worn agalnut the %shingles,"
-
J. All tho Differences,